The Dark Side of Wellness

A recent court case has brought to light the disturbing practices of a company that claimed to promote women's wellness through "orgasmic meditation. " The leaders of this company, Nicole Daedone and Rachel Cherwitz, were found guilty of forcing employees into traumatic and demeaning tasks with little to no pay. This verdict came after a five-week trial and less than two days of jury deliberation. The company, OneTaste Inc. , was founded by Daedone in San Francisco in 2004. It was initially presented as a self-help commune that focused on female orgasms as a path to sexual and psychological wellness. The company's signature practice, "orgasmic meditation" or "OM, " involved men manually stimulating women in a group setting. This practice was marketed as a way to enhance interpersonal connections. However, the company's practices were far from empowering. Prosecutors argued that Daedone and Cherwitz used economic, sexual, and psychological abuse to coerce members into performing uncomfortable or repulsive sexual acts. Three witnesses testified that they were forced to become "handlers" for the company's first investor, which involved living with him, cooking for him, and performing demeaning sex acts. The leaders of OneTaste told their followers that these acts were necessary for "freedom" and "enlightenment. " They promised that by performing these tasks, members would demonstrate their commitment to the organization's principles. However, this was far from the truth. Members were not paid the earnings they were promised and were even forced to take out new credit cards to continue taking the company's courses. The defense team tried to paint Daedone as a feminist entrepreneur who created a unique business around women's sexuality and empowerment. Cherwitz's lawyer argued that the witnesses chose to join the organization and knew what it was about. However, the jury saw through these arguments and found the leaders guilty of federal forced labor charges. The current owners of the company, now rebranded as the Institute of OM Foundation, maintain that their work has been misconstrued. They claim that sexual consent has always been a cornerstone of the organization. However, the court's verdict speaks volumes about the true nature of the company's practices. It's important to note that this case is not an isolated incident. There have been other instances of companies using the guise of wellness and empowerment to exploit their members. It's crucial to be critical and question the practices of such organizations. After all, true empowerment comes from within and should never involve coercion or abuse.